Display device



L. E. SHAW DISPLAY DEVICE Aug. 7, 1934.

Filed April 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet i V Y IF?N%A 7 1934. L. E. SHAW 1,968,915

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aprii 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ,2); cially chocolates, which are not only subject to Patented Aug. 7, 1934 1,968,915 DISPLAY nnvroa Louis E. Shaw, Eastbrangeyhl. J,.,"as,signor to Adartcraft, Incorporated, New York, N. Y1, a corporation of Delaware r Application April 1:. 1932, No. 604.930 Claims. "(01; 126) This invention relates todisplay devices and has particular reference to a member adapted to be arranged in a package or container to simulate .or represent .the articles usually packed therein so as to create the impression that a packageor container of the actual merchandise is being. displayed. a

g It is the common practice among dealers in packaged merchandise to open one or more of 0, the packages to expose the articles of merchandise packed therein and thento place the open packages in a prominent place or position where their contents can be readily seen by prospective purchasers. Dealers in cigars, cigarettes, confections, andthe like follow this practice, placing opened boxes of cigars, cigarettes, choc? olates and other candles on a counter, or in a show case orwindow, or; other prominent location. Many of the articles are perishable, espedeterioration because of dust and insects, but alscbecorne coated with an objectionable film of cocoa butter when subjected to heat, so that they cannot-thereafter be sold. Cigars exposed :3; in openboxes are also liable to deterioration by drying out. l Furthermore, in order to provide a substantial display-of the packaged merchandise, the dealer must have on hand a larger stock of the men- 0; chandis'e than he ordinarily expects to sell and if'the merchandise on display becomes damaged a considerable loss is entailed. This practice is accordingly expensive and generally unsatisfactory. 5

mat or plaque, which simulates exactly the top layer or upper surface of the articles of merchandisc displayed when the package is opened, is provided and is adapted to be used in substitution for the original articles of merchandise in the package, so that the actual merchandise is not subjected to deterioration and is not required in a quantity which makes provision for;

display. Thenewmat or plaque is formed with or bears representations of the articles of merchandise so. arranged as to simulate the top row or layer of the salable articles as they appear in the container or package in which they are packed and sold. Thus, the plaque bears threedimensional representations of cigars, cigarettes, candies or the like, which follow the exact 0011- figuration, coloring and general appearance of the actual articles of merchandise which they are adapted. to replace, so that the simulation i$ lb- In accordance with the present invention, a

stantially'perfect and cannot be detected bythe average casual observer.

The plaque is preferably molded fromplastic material and is in the form of a base having a plurality of projections rising from it which are spacedcne from another and whoseshape, size, contour and surfacing ccnformexactly to those of the articles to be simulated, and rings of crimped paper are placed around the several pro- Jections, filling the spaces between adjacent projections and between the several projections and the surrounding walloi the, container and having their lower edges bearing upcn the top surface of the base. In this way it is possible to'simulatepackages of merchandise with pronounced fidelity in a form which is much less expensive than the genuine article bothers to its initial cost and as to the period of time over which it may be used.

The invention is of special value in the provisionot displardevices for'use inconnection with the sale of candy; though it is not limited to that use,'as it is well adapted for use in connection with other articles such as small cakes which are sometimes sold in shallow boxes con-, tainlng a single layer of individual cakes, or small stacks of thin cakes, biscuits or the like. Some or the features of. the invention may also be used in simulating articles which are not ordinarily packaged in paper cups of the kind commonly used as receptacles {or confections, cakes, biscuits and the like. For-instance, a plaque may be madein themanner indicated to simulate the top layer of cigars in a box'by molding a plaque of the appropriate contour from plastic moldable material, applying bands to the imitation cigars of the plaque and applying cellophane to them. In such cases the height of the molded projections should be considerable with reference to the thickness of the simulated. articles and the sides of the projections extending down to the base should be substantially transverse to the" plane of the base in which case the simulation of the genuine articles will be much more pronounced.

When the invention is used in connection with the sale of chocolate candies, a particularly attractive displaymay be provided. "The plaque of molded material may be given a color which is' practically indistinguishable from that of the chocolates by incorporating coloring into the moldable material .or by applying colcringto the flnishedplaque as withan air brush. Also, the dies by which the plaque is formed may be made directly item .a. box of chocolates so that every detail of thecontour and surface conformation of each candy will be directly reproduced'in the The idea underlying the invention is susceptible" of wide use in simulating a variety of practicescommonly used by candy manufacturers. For instance, sometimes it is desirablejto simulatea box of candies containing some special confection which cannot readily be reproduced in making the plaque in a form sufii'ciently accurate and attractive. candies has in the top row one or more nuts like almonds, and in some instances flaked chocolate is applied to a portion of the surface of sucha' nut. As the almond nut is rather thin for its size, it is common to place three such nuts side by side and the contour presented by three such nutscannot:

readily be simulated in molding the plaque with the desired accuracy. In this situation and those of similar character, the plaque may be prepared with one or more areas thereon free from any projection and then separately formed imitations of nuts or other confections to be displayed may be secured on any such fiat area by a suitable adhesive, whereupon the crimped paper ring is applied around these in the usual manner. In any such instance the imitation nut may have imita tion flaked chocolate applied directly tocit by dipping a portion of its area into adhesive material and thereafter dipping it in 'a supply of flaked material. Boxes of chocolates candies enclosed in foil. When'using the display device constituting this invention, the same ap-v pearance can be presented by applying a piece of, foil over a projection on the. plaque so'that its edges extend down close to thebase. Then when the paper rings-are placed around all of the projeotions including the one covered by the foil',

the appearance presented will exactly duplicate the genuine article. i

In instances where the'individual confections are packed in the tray or box without employing; the paper cups, so that the bottom of the tray orbox is visible, the spaces on the plaque between the individual representations of the confections are either left open so that the bottom of the tray or box is visible; or the base of the plaquebetween the representations is" color ed white, or the like, to simulate the color'of the bottom of the tray or box; or, if the representations are relatively widely spaced apart, a cardboardmask having apertures the shape of the representations is placed over themand restsupon the base of the plaque. q I

These and other features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description in connectionwith the accompanying drawings illustrating: the embodiment; of

the invention atpresent preferred.

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a box containing the new display device of this'invention in the form of a representation of the top layer of candies as they are usually packed in the box;

As an example, sometimesa box of frequentlyhave some few:

display device of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 10 designates. the usual cardboard box in which candy is packed, this box being of the size adapted to contain two or more layers of candy, at least the top layer of which is placed in a cardboard tray 11. In the simulated box of candy includi'ng this invention, the tray 11 may be conveniently supported in its proper position in the upper part of the box 10 by means of the card-v board support 12 or the like. In smaller boxes, such as half pound boxes of candy, of course the support 12 will not be necessary, since the candy is packed in only one layer, and the tray 11.wi1l not be used in the one-layer box. I

. "Resting in the tray 11 is the plaque l3 representing the individual candies arranged in the manner in which they are packed in the tray 11. This plaque 13 is formed in one piece and is preferably molded from suitable initially plastic material by means of dies or the like, preferably constructed from the actual candies as patterns or models, so that the representations of the candies are exactly like the actual candies. This plaque 13 includes a base 14'having stiffening flanges .14 and ribs 15 on its under or rear surface'for rendering the plaque rigid and prevent ing'warping or bending.

1 Embossed or otherwise formed on the upper surface of the base 14 are the representations 16 of the individual candies arranged with respect to eachother as they appear in the actual box of candy, and having the exact surface config.

uration of' the'actualpieces of candy. As shown especially in Figs. 2 and 4, these individual representations or embossings 16 are spaced from each other so that the simulation of individual pieces of candy is heightened to a considerable degree.

- The height of'the individual representations 16 above the base 14 of the plaque is less than the height of the actual candies above the bottom of the tray 11, and this arrangement provides a space between the base 14 of the plaque and thebottom of the tray 11 for the stifiening flange 14 and the ribs 15. tions 16 are lower than the actual candies which they simulate, the substantially vertical sides of the, representations 16 adjacent base 14 of the plaque give the illusion of height and this illusion, together with the rounded tops of the individual representations 16, producean appearance of depth and shadow precisely like the appearance of depth and shadow produced by the original candies.

Boxes of candies, such as chocolates, usually contain several groups of individual small pieces,

such as coated nuts'and the like. The places on the plaque corresponding to the places occupied H I by these groups of candies in the layer of choco- Fig. :2 isa cross-section thereof as seen along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

lates is left unembossed on the plaque 13, so that flat spaces are formed'between the adjacent -J Although the representa-.

representations 16,1 as indicated at. 17 in Figs. 2. 3, 4 and 5. Preferably employing the actual smaller individual confections as models or patterns, representations 18 thereof are molded or otherwise formed fromsuitable material, one of these individual representations being illustrated in Fig. 6. V i

These individual representations 18 are either placed upon the flat spacesl'l on the plaque 13 individually, or in groups of two or three or more in conformance to the number and arrangement of the actual confections represented thereby, as

is illustrated by Figs. 1- and 5-and indicated bythe dotted outlines in 'Fig. 4; These'individual representations 18' are preferably secured to the surface of the areasl'l by a suitable adhesive so that they cannot be dislodged. In this way the small pieces of candy, which are usually arranged in groups in the actual candy box, and are diflicult to imitate, are faithfully represented by the individual molds arranged on the plaque in exactly the same way as the actual candies are arranged inthebox. The surfacesof the individual representations 16 andi8 are prepared to simulate exactly the coloring and texture of the actual candies. This is preferably done*by'-appropriately painting or lacquering the surfaces ofnthe individual representations 18 to conform to the coloring and'texture of the actual candies. In many instances the plastic material from which the plaque 13 or the separate representations 18 are made is of the color ofone or more of the'confections.

For example, the hardened plastic from whichthe separate representations 18 is made is the color of an uncoated almond or other nut; Also, the plastic materialitself may be suitably colored so that when it hardens it has thefcoloring of the actual candy.

Many of the actual candies are distinctive in appearance because of special coatings or surface materials mounted thereon "and these distinctive appearances are reproduced precisely in the plaque ofthe new display device. For ex ample, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, portions of the surfaces of the almond representations 18 are' partially coated with granular material which closely resembles the shredded cocoanut on "the actual almonds. To obtain this effect, a partial coatingjof glue is applied to the surfaces of the representations 18 and a granular material 19' applied to the glued area, and this material may then be colored to represent a coating of chocolate or the like if the actual almonds. are so coated. Also, certainof the individual candies are frequentlywrapped in'tinfoil or the like, and in order to simulate suchcandies the corresponding individual representation 16 on theplaque 13 is coated with a layer of tin-foil or other sheet or coating material, as is indicated at 2 0 in Figs;

1 and 2.

Encircling each individual representation '16 and the groups of separate representations 18 is a corrugated paper ring or bottomless cup 21,

--"shown in perspective in Fig. '7, and simulating are secured to the base 14 when the coating material again hardens. The separate representations 18 may also be secured to the appropriate flat areas 17 of the base 14 in this way. r

In additionto reproducing the actual candies, their individual surface .coatings'and the paper cupsin which they are placed, other distinguish ingieharacteristicsof the actual candy box may be simulated in the same way. For example, as shown in Fig. 1 and indicated in Fig. 4, cardboard separators or partitions 22 may be inserted be tween ithei candies or chocolates and secured to the base of the plaque by an adhesive or by sof-J, toning the coating materialthereof, and sheets ofxtinJoil 23 or the like may be inserted under the edges of the plaque 13 before it is placed inthe tray ll'andthe like.

In someinstances the confections are" packed in. the tray or' box without being placed in the pear to be resting directlyupon the bottom of the tray or box."

If the individual confections are relatively widely spaced apart so that each one is substan tially surrounded by a flat'area of theplaque base, a mask 24 of cardboard, or the like, having the dimensionsof the bottom of the tray or'box, so as to fit closely therein, and having the color thereof, and provided with apertures thesize of the individual representations, is placedover the plaque and rests on the base thereof as is illus trated in Fig. 8. This mask accordingly simulates the bottom of the tray or box and the individual representations appear to be resting directly upon the bottom of the tray or box.

' This illustration may be procured in another way, i. e., by leaving the spaces 11" between the individual representations open on the plaque- 13', sothat the bottom of tray box 11 isvisible,

as is illustrated in Fig. 9. The plaque "13' is particularly advantageous when the confections formingthe layer which the plaque simulates are packedcloselyso that adjacent confections touch. The individual representations accordingly support each other by their interconnections so that, tho'ugh'the plaque is made integrally, a distinct base is not necessary, since the' representations points of contact adjacent are connected at their their bases. a

In preparing the new display device for use, the plaque 13 is placed in the cardboard tray 11', with or without the sheets of tin-foil ZS'i nserted under the edges of the plaque, a suitable support 12 placed in the box 10, and the tray inserted in the upper part of the box 10 on the support 12;" The display device then appears as illustrated in Fig. 1 and is ready for display instead of the actual boxes of candy which are usually used for display purposes. If it is desired to display a one-layer box of candy, the plaque 13 is placed directly in the box 10 instead of in the tray 11.

The new display device has been illustrated and described as representing a particular package of merchandise, but it will be understood that the plaque may be formed and otherwise prepared to represent the various articles of merchandise which are vended in packages, and that the several forms of individual representations may be used separately or in combinations in the same display device.

ing on the base.

I claim: a

1. A display device, comprising a base, and a plurality of elevated members secured thereon with substantially large areas of the base exposed between certain of the members for the reception of individual members, said members'representing the articles to be displayed.

2. A display device, comprising a base, and a plurality of members embossed thereon in'representation of the individual articles. to be displayed, a portion of the base being unembossed for receiving individual articles to be displayed on the base in association with the embossed members.

3. A display device, comprising a base, and a plurality of members embossed thereon in representation of the individual articles to be displayed, a portion of the base being unembossed, and a separate member on the unembossed portion of the base for display in association with the embossed members thereof.

4. A display device, comprising a base, and a plurality of members embossed thereon in representation of the individual articles to be displayed, a portion of the base being unembossed, and a separately formed member representing an article to be displayed secured to the unembossed portion of the base for display in association with the embossed members thereof.

5. A display device, comprising a base, a plurality of separate elevated members'secured on the base in representation of the individual articles to be displayed, and partition elements resting on the base. I

6. A display device, comprising a base, a plurality of separate elevated members secured on the base in representation of the individual articles to be displayed, and paper rings encircling substantially each of the members and resting on the base.

substantially each'of the members andsecured at one edge to the base.

8. A display device, comprising-a base, a plurality of separate elevated members secured on the base in representation of the individual articles to be displayed, individual members mounted on the base between certain of the other members, and partition elements between certain of the members.

9. A display device, comprising a base, a plu rality of separate elevated members secured on the base in representation of the individual articles to be displayed, a group of individual elements mounted on the base between certain of the other members, and partition elements rest- 10. A display device, comprising a plaque of molded plastic material mounted in a container, said plaque consisting of a base and integral projections rising therefrom and spaced one from another and shaped to correspond to the simulated article, and rings of crimped paper each encircling one of the several projections with the lower edge of each ring upon the upper surface of the base, the several rings substantially filling the spaces between the several projections and between the projections and the surrounding wall of the container.

11. A display device, comprising a plaque of molded plastic material mounted in a container, saidplaque consisting of a base and integral projections rising therefrom and spaced one from another and shaped to correspond to the simulated article, and said plaque also having one or more flat areas between projections, and a separately formed simulation of an article to be displayed secured to the base in each of said fiat areas, and rings of crimped paper each encircling one of the integral projections and the separately formed simulations with the lower edge of each ring upon the upper surface of the base, the several rings filling the spaces between the several projections and between the projections and the surrounding wall of the container.

'12. A display device comprising a plaque of molded plastic material consisting of a base and integral projections rising from the base a distance constituting a substantial portion of the thickness of the simulated article, with the sides of adjacent projections near the base close together and substantially transverse to the plane of the base, and a container in which the plaque is mounted with the top of the projections close tothe plane of the top of the container.

13. A display device comprising a plurality of elevated representations of the individual articles to be displayed connected together at their points of contact adjacent their bases and having openings between and defined by the representations adjacent their points of contact, said representations being smaller in size than any overall dimension of the device, certain of the openings being wholly surrounded by the representations and being spaced from the outer edges of the tween the representations and having a color contrasting with the color of the representations.

15.. A display device comprising a base a plurality of representations of the individual articles to be displayed projecting upwardly from the base, and'a sheet of material shaped to conform to the contours of the representations adjacent the surface of the base and overlying the latter. I LOUIS E. SHAW. 

